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Geology, or the study of the Earth's rocks and how they were formed, is all around us, but there are some unique and bizarre occurrences that scientists have rushed to explain. Here is a list of some of the weird and wonderful geological discoveries, some of which remain a mystery to scientists and nature-lovers alike.
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The Wave, Arizona
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| This gorgeous sandstone rock formation near the Arizona-Utah border naturally took on this wave-like formation about 190 million years ago. Today, it is famous among hikers and photographers for its colorful forms and the rugged, trackless hike that leads to it. |
Door to Hell, Turkmenistan
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| A natural gas field in Derweze, Turkmenistan, this fiery pit was created following a drilling accident in a gas mine, which left a huge crater. |
Rainforest Sinkhole, Venezuela
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| Located in the center of Jaua Sarisarinama National Park in Venezuela, this sinkhole is a natural depression in the Earth's surface. The sinkhole has a completely isolated and different forest ecosystem at its bottom. |
The Puente del Inca, Argentina
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| "The Inca's Bridge" is a natural arch that forms a bridge over the Vacas River. The 'bridge' was most likely formed when cold and hot elements interacted millions of years ago, creating a path for sulfurous water that left behind a colorful trail. |
Bryce Amphitheatre, Utah
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| Although this may look like another canyon, it is actually a natural amphitheater because the rock formation is steep enough to amplify sounds and echoes. Bryce is known for its distinctive geological structures called hoodoos, formed by frost weathering and stream erosion of a river and lake many years ago. |
Trona Pinnacles, Sierra Nevada
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| This unusual landscape located in the California Desert National Conservation Area consists of over 500 tufa spires, or porous rock forms created when springs interact with bodies of water. Some of the spires reach a height of nearly 140 feet (43 meters)! |
Champagne Pool, New Zealand
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| Wouldn't it be wonderful to bathe in champagne? Well that's not exactly what this geothermal lake in the North Island of New Zealand is. It is actually a colorful hot spring with a surface temperature of nearly 74 degrees Celsius, with carbon dioxide bubbling on the surface. |
Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, Madagascar
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| A series of carpet limestone pinnacles in the Northern part of Madagascar. The nature reserve is also known for its unique mangrove forests, and wild bird and lemur populations. |
Badwater Salt Flats, California
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| Located in an area known as Death Valley, this is the lowest point in North America, with an elevation of -282 ft. below sea level (86 m). |
The Great Blue Hole, Belize
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| A large submarine sinkhole that measures over 984 feet across and 407 feet deep (300 X 124m), the Blue Hole was formed during a glacial period when sea levels were much lower. It is famed in history and literature as an area so shallow that most boats don't make it out. |
Hiller Lake, Australia
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| Located in Western Australia, scientists are still unable to explain the pink color of the lake, although they have proven that it is not due to the presence of algae. Most likely, the color is due to some geochemical that has yet to be explained, possible Pepto Bismol? |
Ball Pyramid, Australia
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| The world's largest sea stack measuring in at 1843 feet (562 meters) and formed through a process of coastal geomorphology that took place many thousands of years ago when the continents were shaped as we know them today. |
Elephant Rock, Nevada
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| In the Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, this naturally occurring sandstone rock formation looks very much like an elephant. |
Crater Lake, Oregon
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| This beautiful, frigid lake was formed only 150 years ago by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama. |
The Peculiar Pinnacles, Australia
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| Also located in Western Australia are these amazing natural limestone structures that were formed about 25,000-30,000 years ago when the sea receded leaving deposits of shells. |
The Sliding Stones, California
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| Another of Death Valley's natural wonders, these sliding stone have gained fame as one of the 'inexplicable' mysteries of our time. The assumption is that the rocks were moved across an ancient sea floor and that their tracks remained imprinted. |
The Moeraki Boulders, New Zealand
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| These gigantic boulders began forming on the ocean floor and now have made their way to the coastline where they are beginning to erode. |
The Beauty Pool, Wyoming
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| Within Yellowstone National Park, this hot spring contains different kinds of algae and bacteria species which flourish and create this vivid array of colors. |
Timothy P.